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We're three months into officially being in the new house and from day one the projects have been in full swing. It seems like we have so far to go (in some ways), and also like, oh my gosh we've done so much in such a short amount of time already. Trying to find the balance of we've come so far! But we have so much farther to go!

I feel like bedrooms can often go missed in a redesign because they're a space guests see less often. But I feel the opposite - we live here! It's important that this room gets some attention too. Maybe not all of the budget but certainly some thought and some strategic, affordable updates. Sharing some of the simple ways we've styled ours recently.

Our bedroom is small, so we have a queen sized bed frame and currently no official "bed" or even headboard. I used euro sized pillows to create a "faux headboard" kind of look. They are an inexpensive way to give a bed height and dimension for a fraction of the cost of an actual headboard. Plus they had cushion and texture and a nice support to sit and read.

I love the look of all white bedding. I feel like it looks classic, clean, and crisp, and you can easily switch out less expensive pillow cases if you want to update the look seasonally. Our sheets, duvet cover, pillowcase shams, and blanket are all by Boll & Branch. They make ethically made, organic, luxurious bedding. Their bedding is stunning and the quality is excellent, but even more importantly, a portion of all sales goes to end human trafficking. I cried watching the video of the non-profit they support, Not For Sale, specifically helping children escape exploitation and slavery. To say it's a worthwhile cause is an understatement. The bedding is fantastic, yes, but I really love supporting companies who are making a lasting difference.

Our pillow inserts, duvet, and mattress pad are by SLEEPHI, a Boston based bedding startup. They're on a mission to improve sleep, and have a unique "climabalance" technology for regulating temperature throughout the night. The pillows pictures are these, and are designed specifically for back and stomach sleepers. You can see they have that indent in the center, it's designed to keep the spine aligned at all angles. After sleeping on it for weeks I can attest that these are great. Use code 10SLEEPHI for 10% off everything except the comforter, which is on backorder.

A tip for bedding shopping: even though we have a queen sized bed, I buy my duvet and duvet cover in one size up (king) so that it hangs off the sides more easily and is more forgiving to share. I buy the fitted sheet in a queen, and we don't use a flat sheet (European style, and less to deal with when you make the bed), and the duvet goes right on top, with extra blankets for the winter. I run cold so I bundle up.

Things we still need: matching nightstands and some kind of lighting (considering these). We painted all walls and trim before we moved in, and there is a tiny master bath in this room (not pictured, to the right of the dresser) that needs some TLC. Again, trying to focus on all that we have done instead of all that I wish we could do. The time constraints of having a toddler and doing it all yourself make for some good lessons in waiting patiently and being content with where you're at.

Allie Seidel

Hi, I'm Allie.

I'm a mom and Pediatric Speech Therapist, and currently spend my days enjoying those two things. Here I write about DESIGN, MOTHERHOOD, STYLE AT HOME and LIFE in Seattle. Click HERE to read more about me. Say hi at allie@allieseidel.com.

That two kid life can be so crazy at times but then are moments like these that catch my breath and make me remember how fast this is all going. The longest shortest time, the all-in years, the wildest and the most joyful and sometimes the most insane. At Lake Almanor earlier this summer we were sharing bucket list items at a family dinner (and my 92 year old grandma said she wanted to go zip lining so that’s the kind of shoes I get to fill) and I thought about my biggest dreams for this season and realized there are many (take that Disneyland trip we didn’t get to last spring, go skiing as a family) but most importantly, I want to parent from the long-term perspective at the front of my mind. It’s so easy to miss the big picture in the middle of our ordinary, mundane, daily lives, and there are a million tiny tasks to attend to and get lost in when raising small children, but when I can remember what the point of all this is anyways, it shifts my parenting in a major way. It’s not easy to do, but I think it changes everything. Parenting mental challenge, accepted. 🙌🏼

Vancouver was a blast! And insane. The moral of the story is: traveling with kids is a lot of work and takes some strategic planning, but the adventure is worth it. My best tips: high hopes, low expectations, and more snacks. 🙌🏼

So ready. Happy first day, Trey! 🎉

We’ve had to stay close to home for so much of this past year that it felt good to get to leave the COUNTRY. Hello BC. Usually we see friends or family when we travel but this is our first vacation just us! Except it’s not really a vacation since we are responsible for the small children we brought. So basically it’s just parenting and managing the tantrums and handing out snacks in a different location. 😂 Still fun. Still glad we came. Vancouver is a super cool city and I’ll share some highlights in my stories. Happy anniversary/first family trip to us. 🎉

Still finding each other amidst the chaos. 😂 It’s our 6th anniversary today! What a year it has been for us. Unexpected, complicated, stressful, but we navigated it together and we now have a stronger, richer marriage for it. Happy to celebrate every year, but especially this one. ✨

As of next week this room will be home to a preschooler! 🍎 We’re starting to think about chores and the message we want to send with that. I’m convinced there is no one right way to parent, even among siblings, and so much of it is trial and error (and we have definitely had our share of errors). 😂 We’re trying out a few things including that beautiful chore chart by @mydaughterflorence_. So far it’s been lighthearted and encouraging and a fun way to focus on the positive. (A good reminder for us all.) 🙌🏼

Three months with this smiley girl who lights up our whole lives. ✨

I know there are no guarantees in life so I never really expected to have a girl, but now that I’m here I just have one question. How many bows is too many? 😂🙋🏻‍♀️🎀😍